I Stand Amazed

I have just spent the last four days standing in amazement as I watched my oldest daughter be a mother! She didn't have nine months to prepare. She didn't have tons of showers to help her prepare for all she needed. She didn't have anyone "instruct" her on HOW to raise FOUR boys. She didn't even have anyone who could really relate to her situation. Oh, yes, she has other friends who have adopted. But most of them already had a child when they adopted or only adopted ONE or TWO children. But two very important things that she DID have: a wonderful husband who is as passionate about these four boys as she is and who feels as called to do that as Rick and I did to go overseas. AND she had/has a wonderful heavenly Father who can give her EVERYTHING she needs. As I sat back and watched her with the FANTASTIC FOUR I was so proud ... so moved by her willingness to sacrifice everything to be obedient to what God has called her to do ... so convicted to spend MORE time on my knees for her and for Brian and for each one of the FANTASTIC FOUR ... so inspired to draw closer to the One who can also give me all I need.

I stood amazed these few days as I watched God's grace pour over this family. There were hard moments, that's true, but there were some incredibly sweet moments ... unexpected hugs, little voices calling me "Gigi", wonderful meals and conversations around the table, playing "Mother May I" as a spelling game, helping dump a trailer of sticks in the woods, cooking a meal with my oldest grandson, changing a diaper after MANY years, ... I could go on and on. Sweet, sweet moments.

I have been praying for my grandchildren for years ... not by name, but with the confidence that they were coming and that God had a wonderful plan for their lives. Now those prayers have faces and names and hopes and a future. They are part of my family. They are changing my world!

Heading for a weekend vacation with them on Friday. Will update later.

In Love

Today I fell in love four times over! How can four very different young men touch my heart in so many ways? There are no words. I am SO blessed. Met my four new grandsons today for the first time. J is such a handsome young man with a vibrant smile. Like all twelve year olds, he's strugging between being a young man and a kid. I so remember Ross at this age... same kind of thing. Wanting to be grown up and treated like an adult one minute and then remembering he is not quite as old as he thinks the next. Lord, be his stability. So much change in his life ... new home, new family, new school ... and all this in the midst of his own body and mind changing. T is so strong-willed, and I say that in a good way - because I know what strong-willed children turn into - people like AUDRA who can do anything they set their mind to... people who God calls to do extraordinary things. Lord, YOU alone can turn T's will to be YOUR OWN. Bring his strength and will under YOUR control. D has the biggest heart you can even imagine. He is so easy going and easily satisfied. He reminds me so much of Brian. Lord, being the third of four brothers is not an easy place. Show him his identity in YOU. Help our family to cultivate the love in his heart so that it can encompass all the new in his life. Little I is a typical two year old and can steal your heart in a moment. He is learning to express himself. Lord, give him the words he needs to do that. They are all sleeping now. Give them a precious night's rest, sweet dreams of Gigi and Grandpa Rick. Take away all of their cares for YOU care for them. Give Audra and Brian the rest they need to begin another day. Give them YOUR strength, YOUR wisdom, YOUR words, YOUR heart. Teach our family how to love these boys in the way that YOU design. We lay our whole family at your feet. Make us into what you want. Bring glory to YOURSELF as we bring praise to You for what You have done and are doing and for the new adventure you have led us on. Our lives will never be the same.

Flowers are in Bloom

Audra and Brian brought our four new grandboys home yesterday. I have talked to them briefly on the phone (as a group) and am excited that Rick and I will get to meet them face to face on Saturday! You can't imagine how excited I am or how apprehensive. I've never had grandchildren before - and now - all of a sudden I have FOUR. My heart is overflowing...my cup runneth over. I promise to keep you updated on the boys. I apologize for not blogging more but I have not been sure what I could write publicly. I would ask you to pray these things for my grandboys:
* for J - peace in his heart
* for T - that he will recognize unconditional love
* for D - comfort and security in his new forever home
* for I - health
* for A - patience and an overflowing of understanding and wisdom
* for B - leadership in guiding this family
Thank you, Lord, for bringing these sweet little boys into our family. Help me to be a good example of your love and mercy. Help me to be the best "Gigi" I can be!

The Fantastic Four

Well, suddenly my garden is bursting in bloom! Over the last few weeks God has been doing some incredible things and soon my oldest daughter and her husband will be bringing FOUR little boys home. Our whole family is excited about how God has brought us through this journey, one that started nearly two years ago. Audra and Brian met the boys over dinner just a few weeks ago and they came for a weekend visit not long ago. We all know that their lives AND OURS is about to change forever. We are so excited about the adventure ahead and covet your prayers. I will do my best to keep my 'garden news' posted frequently to let you know how my garden is growing. I won't get to actually meet the boys face to face until April 5. You can't imagine MY anticipation. Like Audra, I'm scared, excited, apprehensive, thrilled... about being Gigi to the FANTASTIC FOUR!

Frogs and snails

As I write this, four little sweet ones are sleeping. I bet Audra and Brian are NOT. They are too excited. I can hardly wait to hear how the weekend goes. Trying to wait patiently.

Meanwhile, I've been unpacking wall pictures today - some of which I haven't seen in nearly five years. They were packed up in Africa for three years and once they all arrived here in Singapore there was no room to hang them. So they sat packed up for two more years. Most of them are pictures of my own little ones. Glamour shots... just fun stuff... and even some pictures that I had when my children were born.

One - is a cross-stitched piece that someone did for me when Ross was born. I wonder if he and Stephanie would want that?

Can't wait to have new wall photos of grandchildren! Oh, my. the very thought...

Lord, make the weekend last and make the memories wonderful!

Seeds are planted

Seeds are planted in my little garden and in no time at all, I suspect you will be able to see the little sprouts poking their heads out from under the soil! I am so excited about my little garden! I know that each little plant in it will be different - and yet each one has been created to bring glory and praise to the Gardener Himself! I have already been praying (for years actually) that these little ones will be useful in a mighty way!

As I contemplate these little seedlings, I can't help but think about the three original plants in this garden... my children. I have the MOST amazing children and every day I am so blessed by them...by their walk with the Lord... by their faith and courage... and by their obedience to His will.

My little peanut - struggling to become a woman dependent on Him alone and yet so strong in Him she doesn't even realize it. Wow. She inspires me to bring joy in the lives of others the way she has brought it into mine.

My Bud - a man now - and in just a few months - a husband. His quiet spirit, his tenderness - he reminds me so much of my own daddy (whatever blows your hair back!). He is a servant. He has the best hugs in the world (and I need one right now!) He challenges me to be more than I am (InDesign and all) and to never give up.

Boot - my strong willed child, independent, courageous - and ready to bring a whole mission field right into her home. Give her a task - she is on it. Give her a challenge - she will make the impossible seem possible. Of all my children, she is the one who reminds me most of myself. She speaks truth... unapologetically. (Okay, that part of her doesn't remind me of me!) She gives me courage to try a little harder, to burst through the boundaries, to expand my territories.

With all of these "plants" who have come before - what a beautiful environment to bring these new little seedlings into! They have no idea how they are about to be blessed. We have no idea how they are about to bless us! We are ready to change their lives and we are ready to be changed!

I'm watching for those little seedlings to part the ground ... any day now!

My Garden maybe growing

It's hard to believe that in just a few short weeks - days really - I may have four little plants in my garden. It's the first harvest of many prayers, God's perfect will and timing, and the desires that He has put in Audra's and Brian's hearts. I can hardly wait. But I have so many questions. Some of the questions I don't even know how to express. I am just trusting HIM - the Master Gardener - to give me all I need for my new little garden. Until then, I will be preparing myself, as best I can - emotionally, physically, and spiritually for this big change in our family's lives.